Discovery Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: DISCA), the world’s leading linear cable and online informational media company, announced in a press release yesterday that it had partnered with Baidu, Inc. ((ADR) NASDAQ: BIDU), the largest global Chinese search engine, to launch a “first-of-its-kind stand-alone content site in China.” Located at http://discovery.baidu.com the new site will create an interactive knowledge sharing environment tied into the educational areas that Discovery already covers: science, technology, space, natural history, engineering, paleontology, archaeology, history and culture.

“Baidu’s mission is to help people obtain information and find what they need in the easiest and quickest way, while Discovery is a leading provider of high-quality factual content. By combining the strengths and resources of Baidu and Discovery, we can integrate content from a traditional medium such as television with dynamic platforms such as new media, to satisfy the needs and demands of online users while continuing to explore newer and better ways for knowledge distribution.”
– Ren Xuyang, VP of Marketing and Business Development, Baidu.

“On the advertising business front, advertisers have begun to deploy their budgets in response to signs of economic recovery in China and increasingly look toward internet media as a cost-effective alternative to advertising in traditional media,” Chief Marketing Officer, Belinda Wang said in a statement. The company posted second-quarter profit of $30.9 million, or 79 cents per share, beating analysts expectation by 7 cents, according to Reuters Estimates.

Sohu said the 6 percent rise in average revenue per user (ARPU) for Changyou’s massively multiplayer online role-playing games were in a range that was “relatively affordable” for the majority of Chinese game players.

After a global backlash was set off back in June, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology retreated from its demand that all new PCs come bundled with an Internet filtering software called Green Dam-Youth Escort. Although the Chinese subsequently rescinded — or maybe just postponed — the order in early July it seems like several Asian PC makers decided to comply with it anyways.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, several PC manufacturers, including Taiwan-based Acer Incorporated (TPE: 2353) and Asustek Computer Inc. (TPE: 2357) and Hong Kong-based Lenovo Group Limited (HKG: 0992), began shipping their PCs this month bundled with the Green Dam software. Acer and Asustek simply includes the software on CD while Lenovo pre-installs it on its machines but requires customers to activate it.

U.S. manufacturers Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ) and Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) were both vocal critics of the plan but uncertain whether they could afford not to comply since China is the second-largest PC market in the world after the U.S. In the meantime they have chosen not to comply. On the other hand Sony Corporation ((ADR) NYSE: SNE) had begun Read the rest of this entry »

A “TV show” is actually a misleading term for the new production “A Starry Night”. While the drama series may share many of the traits of a classic television program – a star-studded cast, an endearing coming-of-age story, and a strong set of producers – it is, by means of delivery, not a TV show. In nine cities across China and Singapore, an estimated 15 million viewers – or more specifically, commuters – will watch the story unfold on screens in subway cars, bus stops and train stations. In total there will be 50 two-and-a-half minute episodes, with the final airing on October 2 (one day after the People’s Republic of China’s National Holiday). For those who live within walking distance of their office, once the public broadcast is completed, the show will be expanded into a full-length film for theaters.

After its first day on the air, commuters shared mostly positive reviews:

The collaborative production – which is the first of its kind – is backed by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) and Ufinity (also Singapore-based), as well as China’s Prime Time Entertainment. The selected Chinese cities are currently Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Tianjin, Nanjing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. For more on the story, actors and producers check out MDA’s press release.

TechCrunch is reporting that one of the oldest social networks, Friendster, is looking for a buyer, advised by Morgan Stanley. Though claiming 100 million registered members, Friendster’s relevance in Asian markets is what potentially drives the deal, particularly in what they refer to (unfortunately) as the SIMP markets: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Friendster still has surprising strength in these four countries, and focuses most of its efforts in the region, with little relevance in U.S. and European markets anymore.